The National Credit Union Foundation (NCUF) and the Credit Union Foundation of the Dakotas are inviting Dakota credit unions to hold a “Financially Fit Day” on April 3, 2013 to kick off National Financial Literacy Month. This fundraising day is part of a relatively new campaign, entitled “Credit Unions Support Financial Education: Leading the Way to Financial Freedom”

In order to join in this initiative, credit unions can carry out either (or both) of the following activities to fundraise among staff and members:

•              holding a “Financially Fit Day” on Wednesday, April 3, 2013

•              fundraising throughout the month of April

Fundraising could be as simple as a jeans or casual day for staff, but additional ideas are included in a toolkit at financialeducation.coop, the campaign website. Also included on the website are other campaign resources such as optional pledge forms, sample newsletter articles, sign-up sheets, stickers, flyer, statement stuffer, wall pin-up templates, a YouTube video, web buttons, and more.

Peter Butterfield, Board Chairman of the Credit Union Foundation of the Dakotas (CUFD) says “The Foundation hopes that all North and South Dakota credit unions will adopt the use of a Staff Casual Day on April 3, as a way of promoting the work of the National Credit Union Foundation and the Credit Union Foundation of the Dakotas in the mission of financial education.”

Donations made as part of the initiative will be split 50/50 between NCUF and the Credit Union Foundation of the Dakotas. The donations can be made at financialeducation.coop.

Funds raised will support the National Credit Union Foundation’s critical programs that assist credit union members nationwide to achieve financial freedom such as REAL Solutions, Biz Kid$, and grants. The Credit Union Foundation of the Dakotas’ portion of the funds raised will go to ongoing financial literacy efforts in the Dakotas.